Could This Smog-Eating Tower Help Solve China's Pollution Problem?

It’s no secret that one of China’s biggest public health problems is the rampant pollution that’s come to characterize its rapidly developing cities. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes 2.4 million deaths in China every year as a result of complications from asthma or cardiovascular issues. Though recent reports have shown that stricter emissions regulations and slowing development have marginally decreased the amount of harmful particulate matter in the air, there is still much work to be done to reduce pollution to levels deemed acceptable by the WHO.

Though many environmental innovations have been proposed, one project that shows serious promise is the Smog Free Tower, the brainchild of Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde and his Netherlands-based team. The 23-foot-high structure, which was recently built in Beijing, operates as a giant air purifier, using ion technology to attract roughly 30,000 cubic meters of pollution per hour. True to its eco-friendly intent, the tower operates almost exclusively on wind energy.

While the impact of this first tower is relatively small, its success signals an obvious opportunity to expand the initiative across the city and country. To help fund the endeavor, Roosegaarde’s team has created Smog Free rings and cufflinks from the compressed particulate matter collected; each ring, says the design company, brings 1,000 cubic meters of clean air to the city. All proceeds will go toward the creation of additional Smog Free Towers.